Recertification

To ensure they maintain competency and keep abreast of changing technology, pesticide applicators in Pennsylvania must get recertified after three years. On this page, find information for pesticide applicators seeking recertification credits, including how to find credits, a list of upcoming opportunities, Penn State’s online recertification course, and frequently asked questions.

How to Get Pesticide Recertification Credits

A commercial, public, and private pesticide applicator license in Pennsylvania is valid for three years. If you want to maintain certification, you must attend update training programs in order to accumulate recertification credits in core and appropriate category-specific topics. You have to do this at three-year intervals.

Interactive online recertification courses are available for pesticide applicators who want to earn recertification credits at their own convenience. You can register for online courses in English and Spanish. If you want to find out about core and category-specific recertification credit opportunities, you can search the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s PaPlants website.

To determine the number of credits you need to maintain your applicator’s license, you can contact an Extension office. However, it’s much easier to look up your pesticide applicator recertification credits online.

Penn State Extension has a vast range of recertification credit programs, meetings, and courses you can take advantage of. Here are some examples:

• Pesticide Core Credit Recertification: Covers pesticide safety and you earn 4 core Pennsylvania pesticide applicator recertification credits
• Plant Health Diagnosis: Accession Plant Diseases, Pests and Problems: Covers diagnosing plant health problems and you earn 4 PDA pest applicator recertification credits
• Pesticide Sprayer Cleanup: Covers the why, where, and how to clean your sprayer and you earn 1 PDA core credit
• Aquatic Pesticide Management: Using Aquatic Herbicides for Pond Weeds and Algae: Covers the management of nuisance pond plants and algae growth and you earn 3 PDA Category 9 or Private Category credits
• Keeping Pesticides out of Groundwater: Covers groundwater and contamination and you earn 2 Core PDA credits
• Winterizing Pesticide Sprayers: Learn when and how to winterize sprayers. This online course is an opportunity to earn 1 PDA core credit
• Forage Disease Pesticide Update: You can earn 2 core and 2 category credits by completing this correspondence course
• Professional Pest Managers School: Provides an opportunity to earn recertification credits in categories where it's difficult to find credits
• Agronomic Pesticide Update Webinar: Earn 2 core and 2 category credits by attending this webinar
• Crops Conference: Learn about key current crop management issues and earn pesticide, nutrient management, and certified crop adviser credits
• Agronomic Pesticide Update: This is a traditional 2 core and 2 category credit workshop for pesticide applicators

In this section, find all the necessary information to maintain your pesticide applicator license and get recertification credits.